SOUTH BOSTON, VA. — South Boston Speedway will host its annual Open Practice and Media Day on Saturday, March 5.

The daylong event will give competitors a chance to fine tune their machines before the green flag waves to get the 2011 season at America's Hometown Track underway one week later on Saturday, March 12.

Saturday's practice session at the four-tenths mile oval will get cranked up at 10 a.m. and will conclude at 4 p.m. Pit registration will begin Saturday at 9 a.m. The open practice session is open to the public and no admission will be charged.

The season-opening event at South Boston Speedway on Saturday, March 12, will have a special afternoon starting time of 2 p.m. and will feature four action-packed races, including a 150-lap shootout for the drivers in the NASCAR Whelen All American Late Model Stock Car Division.

Other events slated for Saturday, March 12, include races for the Limited Sportsman Division, the Budweiser Pure Stock Division and the Southern Vintage Modifieds.

The second race of the season at America's Hometown Track will also feature an afternoon starting time of 2 p.m. Night racing in 2011 will begin at South Boston Speedway on April 2. That event will get underway at 7 p.m.

Season tickets for all 19 events at South Boston Speedway remain on sale and can be purchased for only $150.

In addition to the normal NASCAR Whelen All American events slated at the track in 2011, several special events are also inked on the calendar, including the annual Independence Day celebration during the 2011 season on July 1. That event will feature a 200-lap Late Model Stock Car Division race, along with a 100-lap Limited Sportsman event, a 50-lap Pure Stock clash and the track's annual Fireworks Extravaganza.

Other special events on the 2011 South Boston Speedway schedule include two appearances by the touring PASS Super Late Models on May 7 and Aug. 20, an April 16 doubleheader featuring the NASCAR K&N Pro Series and the NASCAR Whelen Southern Modified Tour, and the USARacing Pro Cup Series will return on June 11.